Microsoft is the latest company in the technology sector to halt sales in the Russian market.

Microsoft is the latest company in the technology sector to halt sales in the Russian market.

  Microsoft said that it was suspending all new product and service sales in Russia as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In a same vein, Apple made a similar move earlier this week.

It is with great sadness that we report on the events unfolding in the war in Ukraine. We condemn Russia's invasion, which we believe is unjust, provocative, and illegal. Microsoft President Brad Smith expressed similar sentiment on his company's blog.

Microsoft is the latest Western company to halt sales as a show of defiance against Russia's incursion into Ukraine. Nike, Dell, and SAP and Oracle have all halted sales in Russia. Russia has become the latest country to ban selling Apple products. There are no products available for purchase or delivery in Russia on Apple's online shop.

On Tuesday, Apple issued a statement saying, "We are very worried about Russia's invasion of Ukraine and stand with all those who are suffering as a result of the violence." As the refugee crisis worsens, "We are supporting humanitarian efforts and doing whatever we can to support our teams in the area."

Although Google Pay may be unavailable in specific "countries, regions, and institutions" when sanctions are enforced, Alphabet's Google says it will continue to deliver its search engine and other services in Russia. Search, Maps, and YouTube are all still available in Russia "in order to continue providing access to global information and opinions," Google wrote in a blog post.

Although Google has stopped advertising in Russia, it has blocked mobile apps linked to Russian broadcasters RT and Sputnik. RT's mobile apps would be removed from the Windows App store, and Microsoft also said that it would block adverts on Russian state-sponsored media outlets.

roskomnadzor, Russia's federal communications watchdog, also said Friday that Facebook would be blocked throughout the nation. According to a US regulator, the social media blackout is an attempt to silence critical voices on social media.

Ford and Ericsson are among the other companies that have discontinued selling or providing services in Russia. Furthermore, shipping giants APM-Maersk A/S and Mediterranean Shipping Co. indicated they will halt all deliveries to Russian ports, except for food deliveries.